[so sorry for the delay in this chapter... here it is at last.]
Twenty minutes later, Alex stirred. She looked up, and saw Olivia's face, her own breaking into a wide smile.
"Hey," Alex said, grinning goofily.
"Hey to you," Olivia replied in a soft voice, and ran her hand softly through Alex's blonde hair.
Alex shut her eyes in pleasure. "You don't know how many times I've dreamt of this moment, Liv," she said quietly, her voice suddenly serious.
"Me too," Olivia replied.
"I never imagined it could be this good," Alex looked up at her again. "I truly didn't know how good it could be. You are just about the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, Olivia Benson." She ran her fingers lovingly over a full, ripe breast. "I'm never going to be able to look at you in the squadroom again," she smiled. "Every time I see you, I'll see these," she cupped the other breast, and just stared at them both, her eyes darkening with lust.
"I'm guessing you're a boob girl," Olivia's tone was light, yet dry.
"I am now," Alex told her with a grin. "Seriously, Liv, you must know how incredible you are."
Olivia cupped Alex's face and kissed her, softly at first, deepening the kiss as Alex responded enthusiastically.
"You're the first one I've ever believed," Olivia said eventually. "I think this is the first time I've cared what anyone thinks of me. Really cared." She grinned shyly at her lover. "This is the first time I've ever felt beautiful."
"Well believe me when I tell you you are," Alex gently pushed Olivia on to her back, and drew back the covers, openly ogling the brunette. "And now," she smiled, "now I'm going to prove just how beautiful you are," she kissed her on the lips. "I'm going to get to know every inch of you," she moved to her neck, kissing and nibbling her way. "Assuming my plans meet with your approval, Detective?"
"Oh God yes," Olivia's voice was gutteral, and she felt her breathing quicken as she reached out to caress Alex's unbelievably soft skin.
$a$a$a$a$a$a
Over the following hours, the two women explored each other's bodies with a passion and joy that neither of them had previously imagined possible. Alex was surprised and delighted to find that Olivia was a giggler, and laughed easily and often during their lovemaking. Her almost childlike rejoicing in Alex's body was infectious, and the two of them came together, again and again, their breathing ragged and their bodies slicked with sweat. Finally, as the sunlight crept through the blinds in Olivia's bedroom, they slept, their limbs entangled and their bodies pressed close together.
$a$a$a$a$a$a
A nagging ringing tone dragged Olivia from her sleep. She didn't recognize the noise, finally realizing that it was coming from Alex's purse. She nudged her sleeping lover. Looking at her watch, she realized that they had only been asleep three hours, but she knew that Alex was very punctilious about answering her phone, and she didn't want to be responsible for her missing an important call.
Alex turned over blearily, smiling as she saw Olivia's face.
"It's your cell, Alex," Olivia said in a soft voice. "Want me to pass it to you?"
Alex grimaced, but nodded. "I should answer it," she said, her voice hoarse with sleep. "Might be important." She looked at it as Olivia passed it over. "Damn," she said. "It's my mother."
Olivia rested her hand briefly – lovingly – on Alex's arm as the blonde answered the call. "Mother," Alex said, warily.
"I'll make tea," Olivia mouthed, as she climbed off the bed and shrugged on a robe.
"Don't you 'Mother' me," the voice of Eleanor Cabot was icy. "Just tell me why you did it, Alexandra."
Alex struggled to sit up in the bed. "Did what?" she asked, genuinely perplexed. "Mother, you're not making any sense."
"You know damn well what I mean," Eleanor spat. "Last night. At the opera. Mamie Bradshaw was there. She saw you," her tone was disgusted. "If you were looking for a way to humiliate me, you certainly found it."
"Mother, you're not making any sense," Alex tried to keep her voice calm. "Why shouldn't I go to the opera? You know Traviata is one of my favorites."
"You went with a woman," Eleanor ground out. "Really, Alexandra, I cannot conceive a reason why you would do that to me."
"Do what to you?" Alex's voice hardened. "I went to the opera last night. With my girlfriend. We had a good evening. A wonderful evening. I fail to see what that has to do with you? The thought of you never once crossed my mind last night."
"Alexandra, must you be deliberately obtuse? You know how I feel about your …. little peccadilloes. I mean, what you do behind closed doors is bad enough, but this was in public. Mamie saw you. You kissed that woman. In public. How am I ever going to live this down?"
"Live what down, Mother? I told you ten years ago I was gay. Isn't it about time you got used to it?" Alex found herself gripping the phone, and was furious to realize that her eyes had filled with tears. She didn't notice Olivia returning to the room, bearing two mugs of tea.
"I will never accept your... lifestyle choices," Eleanor began, but Alex interrupted her harshly.
"Mother, will you listen for once in your life?" her voice cracked with emotion. "This has nothing to do with choice. Did you choose to be heterosexual? I am who I am. And right now, I have never been so happy to be a lesbian. I have a beautiful girlfriend, who means more to me that I ever believed possible. And yes, I did kiss her at the opera last night. And then," she was so angry she couldn't help lashing out at her intolerant parent, "then we came back to her apartment. We made love all night. We're still in bed right now, as it happens, which is where we will be staying all weekend. I've never been so happy, Mother, and if you can't celebrate my happiness with me, then too bad." Alex's face was streaked with tears, and she was suddenly aware of Olivia sitting on the bed next to her, and of the warm hand taking hers and chafing it between her own. She realized that she was shaking only when Olivia wrapped a warm blanket around her naked shoulders.
Alex realized her mother was still talking. "I want you out of that apartment by the end of the month," her mother's words were vicious. "You are no longer part of the Cabot family. There will be no more allowance, I'm writing you out of my will. You won't see a penny of my money," Eleanor was shrieking now, even Olivia could hear every word she said. "You'll be left with nothing. Nothing!"
"I have everything I have ever wanted right here," Alex tried to keep her voice calm. "I don't need you. I don't need your money. And I sure as hell don't need your approval. Goodbye Mother, have a nice life." Alex switched off the cellphone. She looked at the screen of the phone blankly, half expecting it to ring again. Silence.
Very gently, Olivia reached over and took the phone from her, placing it on the nightstand. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, pulling her shaking lover tightly into her arms. "I'm so sorry Alex."
Alex burrowed into Olivia's front, and sobbed, releasing years of anguish as she allowed the catharsis of the tears to cleanse her. Olivia rocked her gently, murmuring sweet nothings into her ear. Eventually, Alex started to calm, responding to her lover's soothing touch. "I'm so sorry," Alex gulped.
Olivia turned her in her arms, so that their eyes met. She kissed her tenderly. "You don't have anything to be sorry for. I'm just so sad I've caused all of this."
"You didn't cause it," Alex's tone was harsh. "She did. Even if I hadn't met you – and I thank God and all his angels that I did – I'd still be who I am. I've never lied to my family about who I am. If she has a problem, then the problem is hers. My father loved me for who I was; my brother doesn't have a problem with it. It's just my mother and my sister. I've met the love of my life," she reached up and stroked Olivia's cheek gently, "and if they can't be happy for me, then screw them," she startled Olivia with the vehemence of her words.
Alex looked up at Olivia again. "I meant every word," she said, more calmly now. "I have everything I need right here. I have more than I ever imagined I ever would. Anyway," she forced a wry smile, "I've always hated that apartment."
Olivia looked lovingly at her, her chocolate eyes boring deep into Alex's soul. "I love you so much," she whispered.